Knitting-needle.



F. K. RECH.

KNITTING NEEDLE.

APPLICATION mm res. 2a, was.

Pamnm July 9, 1918,

1 K. RICH, OF HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD COMB COMPANY, OF LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A FIRM CONSISTING- OF WII|L\H- LANE AND J. PHILIP LEGERE, OF LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

KNITTING-NEEDLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Februaryfll, 1918. Serial No. 218,388.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK K. RICH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hyannis, in the county of Barnstable and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Knitting-Needle, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a knitting needle with means for facilitating the proper engagement of the yarn with the needle so as to assure making a stitch every time. and avoid the drop ing of stitches without in any way hindering the knitting operation.

For this purpose the invention consists in so shaping any kind of knitting needle at the point as to provide a groove near the point entirely encircling the needle, and an enlargement between the groove and the extreme point for preventing the yarn from bein unintentionally disengaged from the need e point during the making of the stitch. Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view showing a pair of knitting needles embodying a preferred embodiment of this invention and illustrating how they are used in the new or continental style of knitting;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the application of the invention in knitting by the old or American style, and

Fig. 3 is a view of the point of the same needle.

In knitting one of the greatest delays is caused by the dropping of stitches. A very large proportion of all stitches started are dropped in practice, and the speed of production could be very greatly increased if this could be avoided. In order to accomplish this result, I provide each knitting needle A with the usual point B, but have a transverse circumferential groove C in the point near the end but spaced from it a short distance. In the present instance the rear part of the point that tapers down from the cylindrical ortion of the needle is given about the s ape that the needle point usually has, and the groove is formed upon it to red c t e d am t r ust back of the extreme end without otherwise materially altering its shape. This groove slants back to thecylindrical part of the needle 'on that side of the groove with a very gentle slant as will appear in the drawings, but on the side toward the point it has a more abrupt enlargement D. This is in reality a hook and, in the form shown, is circular extending all the way around the needle; and although I have called it abru t it is abrupt only in comparison with t e slant on the other side, as no sharp angle is present. It constitutes enough of an enlargement, however, to enable the knitter to get hold of the yarn just back of this enlargement in the groove so that there is practically no danger of dropping a stitch over this enlargement and off the extreme point E. Beyond the shoulder the point of the needle is made in the same general sha e as has been the case heretofore, substantial conical, terminating at E as just stated: The groove is shown as located at about one third the distance from this end to the line of junction between the conical point and the cylindrical main part of the needle.

In the use of the device the knitting operation is performed as usual but the yarn is engaged by each stitch in the groove C and comes against the enlargement D. Therefore it is always drawn through the loop so that the dropping of stitches is practically always avoided. On account of the smooth surfaces on both sides of the groove there is no danger of this construction interfering with the knitting operation or retarding it in any way,-but on the other hand it greatly facilitates it on account of making it much more eiiicient.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention, 1- am aware of the fact that the groove can be made in other forms, and that the invention "can be applied to all types of knitting needles without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but what I do claim is 1. As an article of manufacture, a hand knitting needle having a circumferential groove located in the point thereof a short Patented July 9, 1918.

distance from the extreme end and substantiell at right angles to the axis of the 2. As an article of manufacture, a knit- 5 ting needle having a circumferential oove located in the point thereof a, short distance from the extreme end, the general shape of the point of the needle on both sides of the groove bein substantially the same and the surfaces at being smooth and without 10 abrupt changes in direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

' FRANK K. RICH. 

